Selectboard Meeting Agenda – 3/19/25

SELECTBOARD 03/19/2025 Leave a comment

TOWN OF WALPOLE

SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA 

March 19, 2025

Starting at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall

SELECTBOARD MEETING 

OPENING OF MEETING

ELECTION OF CHAIR

SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION

HOOPER TRUSTEES MEETING

HOOPER TRUSTEES PUBLIC BUSINESS

  • Appliance Quote and PO
  • Hooper Renovation Update
  • Hooper Maintenance Trust – Petition to the Court
  • Executive Director Search Committee Update
  • Appointment Notices
  • February 2025 Reimbursement to the Town of Walpole from the Hooper Education Fund
  • February 2025 Reimbursement to the Town of Walpole from the Hooper Maintenance Fund
  • Builder’s Risk Insurance

HOOPER TRUSTEES MINUTES

  • Hooper Trustees Meeting – March 5, 2025

HOOPER TRUSTEES NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II

SELECTBOARD MEETING – continued

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

  • Accounts Payable Check Register in the total amount of $1,515,412.38 for checks issued 3/24/2025.

PAYROLL

  • Payroll Register totaling $32,117.77 dated 3/14/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,201.52.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

  • Selectboard Meeting – March 12, 2025
  • Selectboard Non-Public Session – March 12, 2025

COMMITTEE REPORTS

  • Walpole Fire District Meeting – October 9, 2024
  • Walpole Fire District Meeting – November 6, 2024
  • Walpole Fire District Meeting – December 4, 2024
  • Walpole Fire District Meeting – January 8, 2025
  • Walpole Fire District Meeting – February 12,2025
  • Walpole Fire District Budget Hearing – February 12, 2025
  • Planning Board Meeting – March 11, 2025

TIMBER CERTIFICATION OF YIELDS AND WARRANT

  • Op# 24-461-10, Map and Lot# 009-006-000
  • Op#24-461-11, Map and Lot# 009-008-000

PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENTS

  • Map and Lot# 012-013-4U1
  • Map and Lot# 012-013-4U2

PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS

  • Map and Lot# 003-007-002
  • Map and Lot# 003-082-CL3
  • Map and Lot# 008-035-000
  • Map and Lot# 009-007-000
  • Map and Lot# 013-011-000
  • Map and Lot# 022-017-000
  • Map and Lot# 028-033-000

VETERANS’ TAX CREDITS

  • Map and Lot# 005-025-000
  • Map and Lot# 013-027-001

SOLAR ENERGY EXEMPTION

  • Map and Lot# 013-027-001

OLD BUSINESS

Pending Further Actions: Parking Policy, Generators, Old North Main and High Streets Bridges/Culverts, School and Union Street Drainage, 2023 Financial Audit

  • Reservoir Dam Wetlands Permit Application
  • Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Initial Meeting

NEW BUSINESS

  • Selectboard Liaison Assignments
  • Appointment Notices
  • Recreation Revolving Fund Request
  • Capital Reserve Fund Requests
  • National Grid Herbicide Notification
  • Highway Shed Stain Color
  • Assessing Information Fees

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (a) (e)

**Any recording, audio or visual, and/or other devices must be declared at the beginning of the meeting**

Zoning Board Meeting Agenda – 3/19/25

ZONING BOARD 03/18/2025 Leave a comment

Zoning Board of Adjustment Agenda

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Town Hall

7 pm

Roll Call: Appointment of an alternate if needed.

Minutes: Review minutes of February 2025.

Call to Order:

New Business:
Election of Officers

Old Business:
Public Hearing: Variance
Variance: Jennie Cure, Map 11, Lot 27, 529 Valley Road, Rural/Ag District.
Proposed is a wheelchair ramp. Ramp will be too close to the center of the road. Presenter
and builder is Doug Phelps. Zoning Ordinance: Article VIII D-2.

Planning Board Meeting Minutes – 3/11/25

PLANNING BOARD 03/17/2025 Leave a comment

Walpole Planning Board

March 11, 2025

Town Hall

Second Floor

7 pm

Role Call: Present: Board members Chair Jeff Miller, Vice- Chair Dennis Marcom, Clerk Jason Perron, Joanna Andros, Trevor MacLachlan, Select Board Representative Steve Dalessio. Alternate Travis Adams. Absent board member Jeff Harrington and alternate Bill Carmody.

Call to Order: Mr. Miller called the meeting to order at 6:59 pm. He asked Mr. Adams to fill in for the absent board member. Mr. Adams agreed.

Minutes: Mr. Marcom made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Mr Perron seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

Old Business: Public Hearing Site Plan: Bevin Mitchell, 33 Wentworth Road, Walpole. Town Tax Map 19, Lot 72, Residential A District. Ms. Mitchell proposes a four-bedroom, four-bath Bed & Breakfast on the 6-acre lot. Zoning Ordinance Article IV, General Provisions L.

Ms. Mitchell brought in an aerial photo of her 6 acres of property. There are three entrances to the property, two of which form a half circle on the property and all are entered from Wentworth Road. There are many places on the property to park four cars, which is a requirement of the ordinance – one for each bedroom. Ms. Mitchell said she had been touch with Fire Chief Mark Houghton and he is going to come out and look at the space. There being no questions from the public or board, Mr. Miller closed the public hearing. Mr. Marcom made a motion to approve the site plan on the condition the Board receive a letter of approval regarding the fire safety and a sprinkler system from Chief Houghton. The motion passed unanimously.

New Business:

Owner: Acorn to Sky Investments LLC, 135 Main Street, Meriden, NH 03770.

Agent’s Name: Fieldstone Land Consultants PLLC, 208 Elm Street, Milford, NH 03055.

Presenter: John Noonan, Project Manager for Fieldstone Land Consultants.

Property: 505 Main Street & Red Barn Lane, Town Tax 12, Lot 13-3-Unit 2, Commercial District, 3.320 acres, 234,8 feet road frontage on Main Street (Route 12). Proposed Use is Domino’s Pizza restaurant.

Mr. Noonan submitted an application for a subdivision and a site plan. There was confusion on the layout of the property. Mr. Noonan said the property had been registered as one lot of record.

First of all, the three condo lots were registered without the town’s knowledge and it violates the town’s subdivision regulations. So until this matter is straightened out, the Planning Board cannot move forward. Mr. Miller said currently the lot is not one lot, but two lots. Therefore, there is no way this application as it is written can be subdivided unless it is one lot of record. One avenue for that to happen is if Mr. Noonan would apply for a voluntary merger and when that is approved and registered he could proceed with his plan. Mr. Noonan agreed with that pathway. 

Adjournment

Mr. Perron made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Marcom seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously. The time was 7:25 pm.

These minutes are unapproved and will be reviewed at the April meeting for corrections.

Respectfully submitted,

Marilou Blaine

Secretary

April 2025 Clarion Closing Date – 3/22/25

Uncategorized 03/15/2025 Leave a comment

From Ray Boas:

Yes, time again – “no fooling’ – and this is your warning the closing date for the April edition of your CLARION comes on Saturday, March 22, 5 pm (Walpole time), a week from today. 

Again I will ask for your early submissions which help as I start developing the layout well before the closing date (in fact I began April’s issue today). If you have some “news” send it along. In addition, I like to have on-hand material of interest that is not time-sensitive to fill space to round out a pleasing issue. So, if you would “like to be in print” and have something to write and share (images as well), send along for possible inclusion space permitting. Please do remember, it is the advertisers in each issue that make this community publication possible, so please support and thank them.

If you have any questions, or interest in placing an advertisement, reaching over 1900 Walpole, North Walpole and Drewsville addresses, I welcome your inquiries, so please do get in touch with me. Advertising information and contact information is on the CLARION website.

Thank you, RAY BOAS, Publisher

Selectboard Meeting Minutes – 3/5/25

SELECTBOARD 03/13/2025 Leave a comment

TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

MEETING OF THE SELECTBOARD

MARCH 5, 2025

Selectboard Present: Cheryl Mayberry, Chair; Steven Dalessio and Carolyn Vose

Staff Present: Sarah Downing, Manager of Administration, and Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

Guests Present: Rich Kreissle, Manager of Finance; Police Chief Justin Sanctuary; Janet Clough, Police Department Administrative Assistant and Peggy Pschirrer

CALL TO ORDER:  Ms. Mayberry called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:30 PM in the Walpole Town Hall.

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS RSA 91-A:3 II (a)

Ms. Vose moved to enter into Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a) at 6:31 PM.  Mr. Dalessio seconded. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:18 PM.

Mr. Dalessio moved that the Non-Public Session Minutes be sealed. Seconded by Ms. Vose. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

Mrs. Clough, Mr. Kreissle and Chief Sanctuary left during the Non-Public Session.  

Mrs. Pschirrer joined for the meeting of the Hooper Trustees.

HOOPER TRUSTEES

Ms. Vose moved to enter into the Hooper Trustees meeting at 7:19 PM.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry and in favor, the motion was approved.

The meeting was reconvened at 7:57 PM.

Congressional Funding Grant: Mrs. Pschirrer asked to address one other item before she left the meeting.  There is a Congressional Funding Grant available, but the application is due Friday, March 7th and it requires a letter from the Selectboard.  The Police Station Grant writer will prepare the grant application using the revised $6,200,000 price estimate for a smaller station.  Mrs. Pschirrer will draft a letter for the Selectboard and email it to the Board.  Once approved, Mrs. Downing has permission to apply the electric signatures and email the letter.

Mrs. Pschirrer left the meeting.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Ms. Vose moved to approve the Accounts Payable Check Register totaling $93,529.56 dated 3/7/2025 including $25,669.91 payment to Eastern Minerals for road salt.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

PAYROLL

Ms. Vose moved to approve the Payroll Register totaling $34,949.83 dated 3/7/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $7,182.10.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio, and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

Selectboard Meeting – February 27, 2025: Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Selectboard meeting of February 27, 2025. Seconded by Mr. Dalessio. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the minutes were approved.

Non-Public Selectboard Meeting – February 27, 2025:  Ms. Vose moved to approve the Minutes of the Non-Public Selectboard meeting of February 27, 2025. The minutes will remain sealed.  Seconded by Mr. Dalessio.  With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the minutes were approved, and the minutes are sealed.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Ms. Vose brought to the chair’s attention the following committee reports:

  • Trail Committee Meeting – January 8, 2025
  • Trail Committee Meeting – February 12, 2025

Ms. Mayberry acknowledged these minutes.

OLD BUSINESS

Shade Structure at the Pool: Ms. Vose explained the unexpected complication.  The shade structure needs stronger concrete footers than the existing concrete around the pool to support it. The issue is being investigated.

School District Reorganization Study: There was a response deadline of March 3rd.  By consensus, if none of the Towns pass the withdrawal study then Walpole will respond with a team (one Selectboard member, the School Board member, and a resident).  At this point no one knows if the study will even happen.

2025 Community Funding Requests: This is a follow-up item from last week.  By consensus, the Selectboard decided to pass on this.  The acceptable categories were not a good fit for Walpole.

Police Station Grant Writer: Cheshire County offers training for grant writers periodically and a class will begin soon.  No one can commit to the class at this time even though there is interest.  The current Police Station Grant Writer is already trained.

NEW BUSINESS

Lien Discharge: There is a mechanic’s lien for a property with outstanding sewer fees that were paid off.  The home is being sold.  Mr. Dalessio moved to discharge the Lien on Volume 2816 Page 848 and to have the Chair sign the form.  Seconded by Ms. Vose.  With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the lien is discharged, and Ms. Mayberry signed the form.

St Peter’s Church as Polling Place: Ms. Vose moved that the Chair sign the annual short-term lease for voting in the church basement.  Mr. Dalessio seconded.  With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion passed, and Ms. Mayberry signed the lease form.  Mrs. Downing will email the signed form to St. Peter’s Church.  We have a good long-term working relationship with St. Peter’s.  The church pays the insurance to cover polling, and the Town plows the church parking lot. 

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS RSA 91-A:3 II (a)(e)

Ms. Vose moved to return to the Non-Public Session pursuant to RSA 91-A:3 II (a)(e) at 8:36 PM.  Mr. Dalessio seconded. With Ms. Vose, Mr. Dalessio and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved. 

The meeting was reconvened at 9:30 PM.

Mr. Dalessio moved that the Non-Public Session Minutes be sealed. Seconded by Ms. Vose. With Mr. Dalessio, Ms. Vose and Ms. Mayberry in favor, the motion was approved.

ADJOUNRMENT: Ms. Mayberry declared the meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note: These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the March 12, 2025 Selectboard meeting.)

Selectboard Meeting Agenda – 3/12/25

SELECTBOARD 03/12/2025 Leave a comment

TOWN OF WALPOLE

SELECTBOARD MEETING AGENDA 

March 12, 2025

Starting at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall

SELECTBOARD MEETING

PAYROLL

  • Payroll Register totaling $33,085.69 dated 3/14/2025 and the 941 Payroll Tax Transfer of $6,672.95.

SELECTBOARD MEETING MINUTES

  • Selectboard Meeting – March 5, 2025
  • Selectboard Non-Public Session – March 5, 2025

COMMITTEE REPORTS

  • Conservation Commission Meeting – March 3, 2025

PROPERTY TAX REFUNDS

  • Map and Lot# 028-159-000
  • Map and Lot# 001-003-006
  • Map and Lot# 030-065-000
  • Map and Lot# 020-044-000
  • Map and Lot# 001-019-000

VETERANS’ TAX CREDITS

  • Map and Lot# 013-027-001

OLD BUSINESS

Pending Further Actions: Parking Policy, Generators, Old North Main and High Streets Bridges/Culverts, School and Union Street Drainage

  • Houghton Brook Bridge – Cost Escalation Update
  • Reservoir Dam Update
  • Reservoir Dam Reimbursement Form
  • Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Initial Meeting

NEW BUSINESS

  • New Police Staton Grant Consultant
  • 2025 Senator Shaheen Congressional Grant Request
  • Recreation Revolving Fund Request
  • Whitcomb Park Reservation Request

NON-PUBLIC BUSINESS: RSA 91-A:3 II (a) (e)

**Any recording, audio or visual, and/or other devices must be declared at the beginning of the meeting**

Annual Town Election Results – 2025

Uncategorized 03/12/2025 Leave a comment

Click the link below to view or download the results of the Annual Town Election.

Signed Election Results 3-11-25Download

Peanut Butter and Jelly Food Drive – 3/15/25

EVENTS 03/11/2025 Leave a comment

PEANUT BUTTER (and jelly) and school snacks

DRIVE-BY / DROP OFF

SATURDAY, MARCH 15

10:00 – 12:00

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH UCC, WALPOLE

On the Common

Benefit for the Fall Mountain Food Shelf

Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes – 3/3/25

CONSERVATION COMMISSION 03/09/2025 Leave a comment

TOWN OF WALPOLE, NEW HAMPSHIRE

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

MARCH 3, 2025

Members Present: Nicole Adams, Wendy Grossman, France Menk, John Peska, Co-Chair (Presiding), Lewis Shelley

Alternates Present: Tom Beaudry, Paul Happ

Members Absent: Peter Palmiotto, Co-Chair

CALL TO ORDER: John called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM in the Town Hall. 

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

France moved to accept the February 3, 2025 minutes as written. Wendy seconded and all voted in favor. The motion carried.

PUBLIC BUSINESS

Financial Report: 

  • Conservation $ 244,033.71
  • Forestry $ 51,988.87
  • The Hubbard Fund donated $9,731.25 that will be added to Conservation.

Correspondence:  Cheshire County Conservation’s Meet and Greet will be March 6.

NEW BUSINESS

Member Renewals: Alicia Flammia is not renewing, and she will be missed.  Peter and France have submitted letters to the Selectboard Office expressing interest in another three-year term.  Wendy moved the Commission approve Peter and France as continuing members on the Commission.  Nicole seconded.  With all present in favor, Peter and France were unanimously approved for another term.  Next month a new member will be selected to succeed Alicia.  Everyone on the Commission is asked to recruit possible Alternates. 

Commission and Property Monitoring Files: The Commission’s left cabinet is not full.  The bottom drawer of the right cabinet could be cleared to the other cabinet to make room for property monitoring records.  At some point, John and Peter need to look at historical files to determine what can be purged.  By consensus the bottom drawer will be cleared and used for property monitoring.  In the future the old files can be sorted and purged.  NHACC may be able to provide guidance on what to save and the Selectboard Office may also have guidelines.

John moved that the Commission thank Alicia Flammia and recognize her for her twelve years on the Commission, including several as Chair.  Seconded by France.  The motion passed unanimously, and the Conservation Commission thanked Alicia for her service.

Annual Goals: 

  • Old Home Days: it was agreed that the Commission wants to have a booth on the Common on Saturday.  We will have a map of the conservation land in Town, and perhaps experts on the local wildlife.  The Trail Committee will also have a table next to Conservation with maps of trails.
  • The tree planting will continue this year.  The Tree Committee will develop a plan for the Common and some of the streets in the village.
  • There is interest in determining if some Class VI roads should be designated as Class A trails so they can be improved and maintained.  A Class A trail is a temporary status, and abutting landowners may continue to use vehicles on the trail.  The Selectboard can designate Class A trails and can also change them back to Class VI roads.

OLD BUSINESS

All agenda items will be discussed next month when the appropriate experts are available.

OTHER BUSINESS

Dam: John just received the minutes of the January meeting to determine how to proceed with the Reservoir Dam.  The project will be broken into two parts: first the culvert replacement and drainage which is critical to prevent property damage, and later the slope of the dam.

Hooper Institute Board Update: The Board meets Wednesday.  They are focusing on finding Helen Dalbeck’s successor and filling the part-time educator position.

Trail Committee:  The Rail Trail brush Hogging will need another special use permit this year as the long-term permission form is being revised and not currently available.  Walpole did not get the 2024 bond back, so it needs to be rolled over to 2025.  Brush hogging will be $450 each time for the third year, but the price may have to increase in 2026.

Help Our Trails, a town-wide trail work event, will be held on May 3rd.  This year the Trail Committee plans to focus its trail maintenance work on the Rail Trail and the Mill Pond Trail.

Conservation Commission on the Town Website: Access has been granted, and training is available so the Conservation Microsite can be updated as discussed last month.

Rest Area Work: Due to the weather this winter the April workday will have to be postponed to June.

AGENDA FOR APRIL 7, 2025

  • New Commission member
  • Gateway and Hooper Invasives – Alex Barrett
  • Fanny Mason Logging – Alex Barrett
  • Bird Study – Antioch graduate student

ADJOURNMENT: John declared the meeting adjourned at 8:17 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Sue Bauer, Recording Secretary

(Note:  These are unapproved Minutes. Corrections will be found in the Minutes of the April 7, 2025 Conservation Commission meeting.)

Notes from the Article 4 Discussion – 3/8/25

Uncategorized 03/09/2025 Leave a comment

Tom Winmill shares these notes from the Article 4 discussion that took place at the library on Saturday. [Editor’s Note: This was not a town-sponsored event.]

Article 4 Discussion

The information session on Article 4 held on Saturday, March 8 in the Walpole Library community room was well-attended, with a good discussion lasting over an hour reviewing the pros and cons of the proposal to keep Walpole beautiful by restricting drive-up window joints in the Walpole Village and other commercial districts in Walpole.  However they view this issue, Walpoleans are urged to vote on Tuesday, March 11. Please visit www.PreserveWalpole.org for more information on Article 4.